The Raiders stunned the Patriots and the NFL world with an unbelievable fumble return touchdown to win with no time remaining.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been the kings of losing games in the most frustrating, hair-pulling ways possible this year. It turns out they hadn’t yet found the most incredible way to lose. The Patriots did it instead.
Finally, on the right side of one of those jaw-dropping game-finishing plays, the Raiders beat New England 30-24 after Chandler Jones returned a failed desperation pitch play for a touchdown with no time remaining.
The Patriots had the ball near midfield with seconds remaining, but instead of letting the clock run out and heading for overtime, Rhamondre Stevenson and Jakobi Meyers decided to start lateralling the ball. It did not go well for them.
Best memes and tweets after the Raiders insane finish vs. the Patriots
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? CHANDLER JONES WINS IT FOR THE RAIDERS! @NFL | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/fGsJPHGn7L
— FanSided (@FanSided) December 19, 2022
OMG
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 19, 2022
THE RAIDERS JUST WON ON A WALK OFF TD BY CHANDLER JONES AFTER JAKOBI MEYERS JUST LATERALED THE BALL ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME FOR NO REASON.
MAYBE THE CRAZIEST PLAY OF ALL TIME.
A failed hook and ladder turns into a game-winning Raiders touchdown.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) December 19, 2022
The Patriots had this game going into overtime before they threw up on themselves. Maybe the worst play I've ever seen.
THE RAIDERS JUST HAD THE GREATEST GAME WINNING PLAY IN NFL HISTORY
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) December 19, 2022
RAIDERS JUST DID WHATTT pic.twitter.com/3En2eTx9hF
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 19, 2022
Raiders just won on what has to be one of the most bone-headed plays ever
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) December 19, 2022
The #Raiders have had some wild end-of-game scenarios this year but that one takes the cake. Wow.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 19, 2022
Raiders win is just simply the craziest shit I’ve ever seen live.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) December 19, 2022
Chandler Jones seeing Mac Jones in front of him on the last play: pic.twitter.com/V2cOYcazKC
— Playmaker Betting (@playmakerbet) December 19, 2022
“There can only be one Jones!” -Chandler Jones (probably) pic.twitter.com/L5fjDjPbOO
— Capt Jack (@CaptJackRaider) December 19, 2022
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more unlikely play to end a game. You’d also have to search long and hard to find a more devastating stiff arm on a game-winning touchdown.
Raiders fans were just about ready to fire Josh McDaniels after watching their team blow another double-digit halftime lead. Las Vegas led 17-3 at the break, then watched as Kyle Dugger scored on a pick six, Nick Folk hit two field goals and Stevenson rumbled 34 yards for a touchdown to put New England ahead with just under four minutes to play.
That’s when Derek Carr came alive. He led the Raiders down the field, hitting Keelan Cole on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining.
The Patriots had 30 seconds or so to prevent overtime. They just chose to execute that mission in the worst possible fashion.
The Raiders improved to 6-8 with the win, staving off the axe hovering over McDaniels for another week. The Patriots dropped to 7-7 while giving the Dolphins room to breathe in the AFC playoff race.